Chapter 6: Victoria Comes Back Fighting
Victoria arrived at nine the following morning.
She did not knock.
She still had a key.
Arthur was in the kitchen when he heard the front door open.
He set down his coffee and walked into the hallway.
Victoria was dressed as though she were going to a board meeting.
Hair perfect.
Coat pressed.
Her father's lawyer — a man named Gerald Fitch, whom Arthur recognized from three charity dinners and liked less each time — stood one step behind her.
"We need to talk," Victoria said.
"We do," Arthur said.
He stepped aside.
"Come in."
She walked into the living room.
Fitch followed.
Arthur closed the door behind them.
Victoria looked around the room.
She registered the absence of the children without asking about them.
"Where are they?"
"Safe," Arthur said.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
She sat down.
"Arthur." Her voice was the careful, measured version.
The one she used when she wanted to sound reasonable.
"I know last night was a shock.
I understand why you reacted the way you did.
But I need you to hear me before you do anything that can't be undone."
"I'm listening."
"The woman who contacted those children — whoever she told them she was — is not who she claims to be.
Claire Morrow d*ed six years ago.
I don't know who this person is, but she is using a d*ad woman's identity to manipulate you.
And whatever documents she's given you—"
"I'd like to stop you there," Arthur said.
Victoria stopped.
Arthur looked at Fitch.
"Gerald, I'm going to ask you a professional question.
If your client was aware, prior to a marriage, that her spouse had biological children from a previous relationship — and if your client then took deliberate steps over a period of two years to prevent those children from being placed with a family — what would you advise her exposure to be?"
Fitch's expression didn't change.
But his eyes moved to Victoria.
"That's a hypothetical," he said.
"It is," Arthur agreed.
"For now."
Victoria's composure held.
But her hands, folded in her lap, pressed together slightly harder.
"Arthur, whatever you think you have—"
"Bank transfers," Arthur said.
"Dated.
Named.
Signed off.
An email chain with your name and your private address in the header.
A written account from the investigator you hired, who came to me voluntarily last night." He paused.
"And two children who can describe exactly what happened in this house yesterday."
Silence.
Fitch leaned toward Victoria and said something quiet.
She shook her head.
"Those documents are fabricated," she said.
"Raymond Holt is a man with a criminal record and a history of selling false information.
Anything he's given you—"
"His record is for a traffic violation in 2009," Arthur said.
"I checked this morning."
Victoria's mouth closed.
"I want to understand one thing," Arthur said.
"Not for the lawyer.
Not for the record.
Just for me." He sat down across from her.
"Why?
You had everything.
You had a good life.
Why did you spend two years making sure two children stayed in a system that was failing them?"
Victoria looked at him for a long moment.
"Because they were hers," she said.
The careful voice was gone.
What replaced it was something rawer, and in its own way, more honest.
"Because every time I looked at you, I knew she was still there.
In the back of everything.
Claire.
Always Claire." Her voice tightened.
"And I knew that if you ever found out those children existed, I would lose you.
Not to her — she was supposed to be g*ne.
But to them.
To the part of you that never stopped—" She stopped herself.
"Never stopped what?" Arthur asked.
She looked away.
"It doesn't matter now."
"It matters to me."
"It's too late for it to matter." She stood up.
Fitch stood with her.
"We'll be in touch through proper channels.
I'd advise you not to make any public statements until this is resolved."
"Victoria."
She stopped at the door.
"I'm not going to destroy you," Arthur said.
"That was never the point.
But those children are going to be protected.
Fully.
Legally.
Permanently.
And everything that was done to keep them where they were is going to be part of the official record." He held her gaze.
"You should know that before you decide how to proceed."
Victoria looked at him for the last time the way a person looks at something they are choosing to leave behind.
"You always did think you could fix everything," she said.
She walked out.
Fitch followed.
The door closed.
Arthur stood in the living room for a moment.
Then he heard footsteps on the stairs.
Maya appeared in the doorway.
She had heard everything.
"Is it over?" she asked.
"No," Arthur said.
"But it's starting to be."
His phone rang.
Claire.
He answered.
"She just left," he said.
May you like
"I know," Claire said.
"I'm outside."
